Barber: Border report shows Tucson sector busiest

Jan. 10, 2013
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Yuma, Arizona. / Bob Riha, Jr., USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A new report shows the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson sector remains the busiest along the U.S. Mexican border but concludes the agency hasn't set goals to improve security.

The report from the General Accountability Office also says the agency doesn't accurately access risks and needs when it deploys officers.

Rep. Ron Barber asked the GAO to look at the Border Patrol and review its security strategy and its resource needs.

The review found a 6 percent dip in apprehensions border-wide between 2008 and 2011. But the Tucson sector accounted for 38 percent of all drug seizures and 37 percent of all apprehensions despite covering just 13 percent of the area.

Barber plans community meetings in Douglas and Tucson late this month to discuss the report's findings.

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